The spirit was strong within me not to yield to any growing
unconsciousness; not to be subdued by any physical or moral influences.
I again became perfectly calm. I was seated in the chair. A seafaring
man was in the witness-box. Nugent was not there. Demetrius, sitting
below, was looking at me with an anxious and uneasy expression.
"I recognise the accused," I heard the witness say in reply to a
question from the prosecuting counsel. "A recent event has brought me
here to give evidence."
"Have you any doubt prisoner is the man you saw emerge from the doorway
of Mrs Inglewood's house on the night in question?"
"None."
"Did he appear agitated?"
"Yes; he passed me and rushed down the street as fast as he could run."
"Did you not make any attempt to stop him?"
"No; at that time I was unaware of the murder."
"When did you again see him?"
"Not until a few days ago, when I recognised his portrait in a
newspaper."
A long cross-examination resulted in the witness firmly adhering to his
story, and explaining that as he had been on a long voyage he knew
nothing of the occurrence until many months afterwards.
Demetrius, with evident unwillingness, entered the box. His story was
brief, yet damaging.
When he had concluded, Mr Roland, adjusting his eye-glasses, rose and
asked:
"You are acquainted with prisoner's wife, I believe?"
"Yes; she is my cousin."
"Where did you go when you left England?"
"I decline to answer."
"You have been the prisoner's guest at Elveham, have you not?"
"Yes."
"And what were these suspicious circumstances of which you spoke just
now?"
"There were several. Late one night, about three weeks ago, I had
occasion to enter the library. The door was ajar, and as I pushed it
open I saw the accused in the act of impressing a seal, similar to the
ones produced. I drew back unnoticed."
It was untrue! He had seen me sealing the envelope containing a lease,
and believed I was using the fatal emblem!